Carton



F. C. GLUCK May 9, 1950 CARTON Filed Aug. 13. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l R mm mw/U L a n 6 M a 0 m F. C. GLUCK May 9, 1950 CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1945 I INVENTOR. Fkeo C. 64 um.

Patented May 9, 1 950 CARTON Fred G. Gluck, Minerva, Ohio, assignor to Minerva Wax Paper Company, Minerva, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,464

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensing cartons and more particularly to a carton especially adapted for dispensing sheet material such as wax paper from a roll.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a dispensing carton that is neat and distinctive in appearance, efficient in operation and economical of manufacture. A further object of my invention is to provide a carton of the above characteristics that is adapted to be manufactured from one piece of board stock. Still another object is to provide a carton which may be compressed readily by the hand of the user to grasp the roll contained therein as well as the carton itself to restrict, as may be desired, the rotation of the roll, in the carton and facilitate the removal of a sheet from the roll. Another object of my invention is to provide a carton in which the severed end of the roll of sheet material may be recovered easily if the same should become shifted from its normal position after a sheet has been severed. An additional object of my invention is to provide a dispensing carton which will be self closing in the sense that its inherent resiliency normally will bring the parts to a position which will close the openings thereof to exclude dust, germs and the like from access to the interior. A further object of my invention is to provide a carton whose end wall may afford a complete and continuous surface upon which writing, printing or advertising matter may be advantageously and readily printed and displayed and which end wall may also be flexible readily to permit expansion and contraction of the carton without injury to the end wall. Another object is to provide a carton with a cutting edge disposed at a particularand advantageous angle with respect to the material to be severed to facilitate the operation of cutting a sheet from the roll. Other objects in clude means for maintaining a friction grip upon the roll of sheetmaterial to insure that a uniform resistance is applied to the roll as it is unwound. Further objects include the provision of a visual meter through which the user can determine how much of the roll has been consumed.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred form of my invention, reference being had to the accom panying drawings in which: Figure l is a perspective view of my improved carton; Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the lines 2- 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of my carton; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, i. e. a fragmentary top plan view of my carton but in a contracted position; Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an elevation showing the window for the visual meter; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the sheet of board stock from which the carton is formed;

In the preferred form of my invention to which reference is especially made herein the carton; designated l, in general takes the form of a boxlike structure rectangular in length and of hex agonal cross section. As this description proceeds it will become apparent that my invention may be embodied in other forms of poly'angular cartons or even in a circular form so long as such modifications do not substantially depart from the invention. The carton has a top wall l0, an upper back wall II, a lower back wall l2, 9. bottom wall l3. a lower front wall l4, an upper front wall I5 and a cover flap it (see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 5), all positioned to provide a heat agonal cross section. Preferably the carton is formed from a single sheet of board or cardboard stock, as shown in Figure 7,. as aresult of which the several walls above designated are separated by appropriate crease or fold lines extending lori gitudinally of the finished carton. The fold line 2|, shown in broken lines, separates the cover liap it from the cover In; the fold lines 22 to 26 inclusive respectively are at the junctions between the several walls I!) to IE inclusive;

To sever a sheet from the roll a metallic cutter 0 having a serrated cutting edge is attached by staples, or other well known means, to the edge of the upper front wall or panel of the carton as shown in Figure 1. In this position its serrated edge will lie substantially in the plane of the top wall It when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. w

Each of the walls It to IE inclusive is provided at its ends with end flaps, the forms of which differ between the several panels as shown in Figure 7. Thetop panel It has rather short halfrounded end flaps Illa and lb; the panels H,- l2, l4 and [5 each have triangularly shaped end flaps Ha, and l lb through I566 and l5b. The bottom panel I3 has large integrally connected end flaps 13a and Bo which comprise the outer end wallsof the carton when the box is folded, as shownespecially in Figures 1, 3 and 4. All of the end flaps Illa and lob through 15a and I5?) are integrally attached to the respective panels from which they extend by crease or fold lines shown in broken lines in Figure 7. The triangularlyl shaped end flaps are substantiallyin the form of equilateral triangles so that when the boxis folded into the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 these end flaps will abut at their edges and lie within the larger and hexagonal end flaps 13a and BI). In the folding and assembly of my carton the end flaps Ila and Nb, lZa and H21), Ma and Mb, l5a and I5!) are secured in geometrically proper relation to the end flaps I3a and I3!) respectively by gluing or stapling. This gives the carton strength and solidity.

It will be noted that the end flaps Illa and [b of the top wall ID are not attached to the end walls 13a and I312. That is to permit the top wall ID along with its longitudinally extending flap IE to be free to move with respect to the end walls and the other walls of the carton within limits presently to be described.

Each of the end walls l3a and I3!) are creased to form a triangular portion divided into two right angle triangles by a central crease. This triangular portion of each end wall has a base thatis adjacent the top panel ill of the carbon when the parts are in the position and relation shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The creasing comprises a central outwardly facing crease or fold 30 in the wall [3a and a similar outwardly facing crease of fold 3! in the wall [3b. Inward creases 32 and 33 are formed as shown along lines extending outwardly from the center of the end wall Ba and similar creases 34 and 35 are formed in the end wall I31).

I have shown the crease lines 30 and 3| in single full line in Figure 7 and shown the same crease in double full line in Figure 1, to indicate the general position of the crease which gives it a tendency to move outwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figures 4 when the carton is bodily contracted. When the front and rear walls of the carton are urged toward each other they tend to swing about the crease lines 25 and 25 to bring the crease line 22 at the rearward edge of the top wall forwardly toward the cutter C, as shown in Figure 5. As the front and back portions of the carton are shifting from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5, the end walls spring or yield due to the movement of the crease lines 30 and 3| outwardly, as shown in part in Figure 4. At the same time the triangular portion of each of the end walls adjacent the top edges and within the creases 3235 tends to collapse about the central creases 30 and 3|.

The construction just described of a continuous and uncut end wall that is merely creased has a further use and advantage not found in similar prior cartons. By this construction of the upper portions of the end walls I am able to provide a continuous smooth surface broken only by the crease lines which are substantially inconspicuous and at the same time provide for the contraction of the end walls to permit the front and back walls of the carton to be moved toward each other as more and more of the roll is consumed. Thus as the front and back walls of the carton are pressed toward each other from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure the centers of the end walls at the innermost ends of the vertical creases 30 and 3| bulge outwardly. By this arrangement of creases and folds the triangular portion of each end wall moves out of the general plane of the wall and the main portion of the end walls [3a and |3b tends to form substantially a five sided pyramid as shown in Figure 5. At the same time what was the sixth side between crease lines 34 and 35 collapses as above described and as shown in part in Figure 4. When substantially all of the sheet material has been dispensed from the carton the front and rear walls thereof may be moved toward each other to a condition of even greater proximity than that shown in Figure 5 at which time the hinged edge 22 which supports the top cover may come very close to or actually contact the cutter C. In this condition the flexing of the end walls will be at a maximum. At this time the crease lines 32 to 35 of each end wall will lie substantially in the same longitudinal plane of the carton as the respective crease line 30 or 31. Thus the whole of each end wall will then form a five sided pyramid with the collapsed sixth side of the formerly hexagonal end standing approximately normal to the original plane of the end wall.

The board material from which the carton is made is chosen to have within itself a substantial resiliency, as the result of which the hinged joints or crease lines always tend to spring the carton back to substantially the form shown in Figures 1 and 3, i. e., the normal position in which the carton is closed against the admission of dirt or the like.

After the board comprising the stock of the carton has been formed and creased as shown in Figure '7 and the cutting edge 0 attached thereto, the carton is assembled about the roll R of the sheet material S. The triangular end flaps are then secured in proper position to the insides of the hexagonal end Walls as shown in Figure 2. The actual fastening may be done in any desired manner as by gluing or stapling.

When the carton is to be prepared for use the user may open the top It grasp the leading edge of the sheet material S, Withdraw some from the carton and thereafter insert the cover flap 16 into the carton between the body of the roll and the leading edge of the sheet. At the same time he should insert the end tabs [9a and lilb inwardly of the end walls l-3a and I31) to close the carton completely.

To facilitate opening the top of the carton I provide a small semi-circular slit 42 having one edge lying in the line of the crease 2|. When the carton is in its normal position this opening lies under the upper front wall l5 so that it will not be exposed to permit the ingress of foreign material. When it is desired to open the carton the upper front wall may be sprung away from contact with the flap [6 to permit the user to place his thumbnail in the opening 42 and thereby gain a grip on the top Wall Ill to lift it about its hinged connection along the crease line 22. Thus it is possible easily to open the carton either for inspection of the contents or to grip the leading edge of the sheet material S.

When the carton is full, that is when the roll R in the carton is substantially unused the leading edge E of the sheet material S follows the path shown in Figure 2 and passes between the flap I6 and the upper front wall i5 of the carton. In this position it will be noted that only the forward edge of the sheet material need be exposed outside of the carton and that the rest of the roll is enclosed within the carton. To withdraw a sheet from the carton under these conditions the top wall [0 may be depressed by manual pressure to separate the flap l6 from the inward face of the upper front wall I5 and expose a substantial part of the leading edge of the sheet material to be grasped by the fingers and withdrawn from the carton.

After the desired length of sheet has been withdrawn, it may be severed from the roll by tearing or cutting it over the exposedredge of the cutter C.

During either the withdrawing or severing operation the roll may be gripped and held against rotation either by depressing the cover downwardly onto the top of the roll to squeeze it between the cover l and the bottom wall it; or by squeezing the front and rear walls toward one another until the roll is frictionally gripped and held. When the front and rear walls are squeezed toward each other they will have the effect of depressing the cover H] as shown in Figure to cause it to enter the carton to an increasing degree depending upon the size of the roll and the pressure exerted upon the front and rear walls.

When the roll R is of full or almost full size little inward contraction of the walls of the carton is required to exert as much friction as may be needed to hold the roll during the withdrawal and severing of the sheet material. However as the roll becomes smaller, greater contraction of the carton walls is required to exert the same friction grip as before on the roll. As the roll becomes quite small the contraction of the walls causes the parts to take the position shown in Figure 5 where the front and rear walls are brought quite close together so that substantially all of the top wall It) has entered into the carton and the cover flap l6 of the top wali has almost reached the bottom wall of the ca:- ton. In Figure 5 I have shown the sheet material passing from the roll R and over the fiap i5 as well as over and outside of the top cover it but inside of the lower front wall it and the upper front wall [5. As there shown a portion of the sheet has been withdrawn and bent back sharply over the edge of the cutter C to lie at an ad vantageous angle to the cutter for being severed from the roll.

When the carton is in the contracted position shown in Figure 5 additional friction against rotation is exerted on the roll and on the sheet material by the disposition, as shown, of the front flap H5 in a curved position between the roll and the wall 14. This is contrary to the tendency of the flap IE to remain straight.

As sheet material is consumed and the roll R. diminishes in size the carton will be contracted to its minimum operable position at which time the crease line 22 approaches the edge of the cutter C quite closely. Preferably I proportion the core of the roll to be of such size as to bring about the final consumption of the sheet material prior to the time that the maximum contraction of the carton brings the edge 22 in to substantial contact with the edge of the cutter C. V

Although the cover of the carton always may be freely opened so that the user may inspect the contents, I provide a means for observing from the outside the amount of unused sheet stock that remains on the roll. To this end I provide a small elongated slot Ml, preferably in the lower front wall M of the carton; and I also provide on the cover flap IS a word 4! such as reorder or empty, or some other symbol that will be advanced to a position permitting it to be observed through the opening 4!! when the roll R is substantially used up. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5 it will be seen that the symbol has reached a position to register with the opening 40 and be viewed through the opening for the intended purpose.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an improved carton for containing and dispensing sheet stock. While I have illustrated and described a preferred form and embodiment of my invention, changes, modifications and improvements therein will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and substance thereof, and I do not care to be limited to the details and particulars of the preferred form as such or in any manner other than by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A container from which to dispense sheet material contained therein on a roll; comprising a carton with top and bottom walls and angled side walls, and end walls. each end wall having on its exterior a smooth uncut surface with creases formed therein to define a plurality of triangular portions one of which adjacent the top wall is of itself creased to divide said portion into two sections that bulge away from the general plane of said respective end walls and lie substantially parallel each to each when said side walls are squeezed together, whereby the remaining portion of the end wall will assume a pyramidal shape.

2. A container from which to dispense sheet material contained therein on a roll; comprising a carton with top and bottom walls and side walls, and end walls, each of said end walls having on its exterior a smooth uncut surface with creases formed therein to define a triangular portion itself creased to divide said portion into two sections that bulge outwardly of the general plane of said respective end walls and lie substantially parallel each to each when said side walls are squeezed together, said top wall being unsecured to said end walls and hinged to an adjacent side wall whereby to slide inside said carton between the other side wall adjacent thereto and the roll when said side walls are squeezed together.

3. A container from which to dispense sheet material contained therein on a roll; comprising a carton with top and bottom. walls and side walls, and end walls, each of said end walls having on its exterior a smooth uncut surface with creases formed therein to define a triangular portion itself creased to divide said portion into two sections that may bulge away from the general plane of said respective end walls and lie substantially parallel each to each when said side walls are squeezed together, said top wall being hinged to one of said side walls, and um secured to said end walls whereby to slide inside said cartcn beneath another side wall when said side walls are squeezed together, a flap attached to said top wall and normally lyin inside said carton between a side wall and the roll, a symbol on said flap and a window in said last named side wall through which to view said symbol when said carton is squeezed together.

4. A container from which to dispense sheet material contained therein on a roll; comprising a carton with top and bottom walls and side walls, at least one of said side walls consisting of an upper and lower wall connected to form an obtuse angle, end walls, each of said end walls having on its exterior a smooth uncut surface with creases therein to enable one portion thereof to bulge away from the general plane of said respective end walls when said side walls are squeezed together, said top wall being adapted to slide inside said carton between a side wall and the roll when said side walls are squeezed together, end flaps on said top wall to engage behind said end walls, a flap attached to a side free edge of said top wall and normally lying inside said carton between a side wall and the roll, a symbol on said flap to indicate the amount of material on said roll and a window in said last named side wall through which to view said symbol when the exhaustion of the contents permits the side walls to be squeezed together.

5. A carton adapted to dispense rolled sheet material having more than four sides with front, back and bottom walls secured to end walls, a top wall hinged to the back wall and unsecured to the end walls and having a flap underlying at least the adjacent part of the front wall, the front wall adjacent the top wall being inclined at more than 90 thereto, each of the end walls being creased on radial lines substantially from its center to its edge adjacent the top wall whereby to yield outwardly when said front and rear walls are moved toward each other.

6. An hexagonal carton adapted to dispense rolled sheet material having upper and lower front and back walls and a bottom wall secured to end walls, a top wall hinged to the upper back wall and unsecured to the end walls and having a flap underlying at least the adjacent part of the upper front wall, the upper front wall adjacent the top wall being inclined thereto, each of the end walls being creased on radial lines substantially from its .center to its edge adjacent the top wall whereby to yield outwardly when said front and back walls are moved toward each other.

7. A container from which to dispense sheet material contained therein on a roll; comprising a carton with top and bottom walls, endwalls and side walls, at least one of said side walls consisting of upper and lower wall portions connected to form an obtuse angle and forming obtuse angles with said top and bottom walls respectively, said top wall being hinged to one of said side walls and being unsecured to said end walls and being adapted to slide inside said carton when said side walls are squeezed together, a flap substantially as long as the upper wall portion attached to said top wall and normally lying inside said carton between said wall portions and the roll of sheet material in a position substantially parallel to said upper front wall portion to provide a passage through which the sheet material may be withdrawn from the carton, said flap being adapted to extend within the carton to an extent dependent on the amount of sheet material remaining on said roll and to contact the said lower wall portion at an acute angle to exert a braking force on the sheet material at that point and bend at that point to exert a frictional and resilient grip on said roll when the top wall of said carton and said flap are depressed inwardly with respect to said side wall, a symbol on said flap to indicate the amount of material on said roll and a window in said lower side Wall portion through which said symbol is exposed to view when the diminution of the contents permits said carton to be squeezed and the flap to extend within the carton to the extent of exposing said symbol through said window.

FRED C. GLUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 938,931 Cornell Nov. 2, 1909 2,000,210 Bayless May 7, 1935 2,353,456 Gluck et al July 11, 1944 2,361,877 Schell Oct. 31, 1944 

